Nationally, the travel industry contributes $2.1 trillion to the U.S. economy, and one in every nine American jobs depends on the industry. The impact of this is significant right here in North Dakota with 24 million visitors spending $3.6 billion across the state.

North Dakota Travel and Tourism Week is held in conjunction with the U.S. Travel Association’s National Travel and Tourism Week, an annual salute to the tourism and travel industry that recognizes the industry’s benefits and importance to communities and Americans.

“Tourism is an integral contributor to our state’s economic growth, generating revenue for hundreds of tourism-based businesses,” Dalrymple said. “I am pleased to declare North Dakota Travel and Tourism Week to honor the outstanding contributions the industry continues to make statewide, and look forward to welcoming millions of new and returning visitors each year to North Dakota.”

North Dakota’s travel industry continues to be a strong and stable contributor in our state’s economy, North Dakota Tourism Division Director Sara Otte Coleman said. “Travel spending impacts all 53 counties because of the variety of experiences offered. From the Badlands and parks, to historic sites and urban amenities, there are enticing reasons to travel in and around every corner of North Dakota.”

The Impact of Travel and Tourism in North Dakota:

Tourism is North Dakota’s 3rd largest industry and important to our diversified economy

24 million people visited North Dakota in 2013. (IHS)

North Dakota travel generated $307 million in taxes, or the equivalent of $1,011 per household. (IHS)

Visitor spending totaled $3.6 billion in 2013. The majority of expenditures, 55 percent, were by visitors from other U.S. states. International travelers made up 10 percent of the total, and in-state residents traveling to other parts of North Dakota accounted for 44 percent of spending. (IHS)

In 2014, every $1 invested in tourism advertising for North Dakota resulted in $94 in visitor spending. (Longwoods)

Canadian travelers are important to North Dakota Tourism. Canadians spent more than $266 million here in 2012. (Statistics Canada)

The top five U.S. states requesting visitor information are Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio.